Dear MNLGA Members:
March 1 comes - the telephones in our office quiet and the e-mail activity is kicked down a notch and I know you all, all of our members in no matter what line of work you are, are back to business full throttle. The next couple of months give our office opportunity to catch up while you all are moving forward. I wish you all a productive and climate-friendly season. Following are a few updates of which you need to be aware:
Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine in DE, PA, and NJ – several months ago, we alerted you to the SLF-related quarantines in PA and NJ. Delaware, just this past Thursday has issued its own emergency regs to enact a quarantine. Please visit the
DDA website at this link to view the specifics regarding the quarantine. For a refresher on the
PA and NJ quarantines, please visit this link; PA and NJ go hand-in-hand with quarantine training.
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2018 Statistical Profile and Economic Survey - two weeks ago your office should have received either an e-mail or physical copy of the 2018 Horticulture Industry Survey. If you did not receive either, please let me know ASAP. You may reach me at
Vanessa@mnlga.org. It is really important that all survey recipients complete the survey to yield the absolute most accurate picture of the hort industry’s economic impact in the state, as well as report on how plants are grown, where they are shipped, what conservation practices are used, etc. BEACON – The Business, economic and Community Outreach Network of the Franklin Purdue School of Business at Salisbury University – is managing the survey on behalf of the MNLGA. All responses go directly to BEACON, which by this fall will compile a report of the tallied data. The survey tool itself is essentially the same as it has been for surveys for the past twenty years. We hope keeping the tool similar, it will be fairly simple for businesses to compile and report their data. (The first five members to
respond, “I read Root!” will receive a gift certificate.) If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact BEACON at
beacon@salisbury.edu or 410-546-6001.
Sincerely,
Vanessa A. Finney
MNLGA, Executive Director
410-823-8684
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Chesapeake Green 2019
Thank you to all that attended Chesapeake Green 2019 February 20th and 21st. The event was a great success due to participation from our attendees, dynamic speakers, and supportive sponsors. We thank all of you who played a part in making Chesapeake Green 2019 an overwhelming success this year.
Look for a full recap of Chessie in the next edition of
Free State. Thank You!
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MDA Boxwood Blight Training
March 14, 2019 - Annapolis, MD
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The department’s Plant Protection & Weed Management program will host a boxwood blight training seminar on March 14 at 10 a.m. at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S Truman Pkwy, Annapolis, in Room 112. Boxwood blight, an exotic fungal disease, is a serious concern for Maryland’s nursery industry. Occurrence of this disease has been increasing in the nursery trade and beyond.
The training will include a discussion on boxwood blight management, biology, exterior quarantines imposed by other states for boxwood plants leaving Maryland, new developments, and current issues facing the disease.
This free training is limited to 50 participants. If there are fewer than 15 attendees registered by March 5, the training may be cancelled. To register, please contact the department’s Plant Protection & Weed Management program at
ppwm.mda@maryland.gov or 410-841-5920.
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New MDA Site for Registering Nursery Locations for Spray Drift Prevention
This new site is a voluntary communication tool that enables crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through use of mapping programs. It is not a substitute for any state regulatory requirements.
Learn More.
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Rural Mental Health Workshops
Dates and Locations Across The Entire State
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Registration is now open for the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) Mental Health Workshops. Funded by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the purpose of these workshops is to bring awareness to Mental Health in rural areas.
These workshops will be targeted towards, but not limited to, agribusiness professionals, crop consultants, extension agents, farm bureau leaders, nutrient management planners, agricultural lenders and soil conservation district employees. Farmers and farm families are also welcomed and encouraged to attend.
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WOTUS - Public Comment Period Open Until April 15
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the final Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule on February 14.
Soil Conservation District Annual Report Available
2018 Annual Report Available
The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) has released its 2018 annual report titled, Pulling Our Weight for the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. The report highlights how Maryland’s 24 soil conservation districts are helping farmers protect natural resources on their farms for a cleaner, healthier Chesapeake Bay. For a copy of the report, contact Lindsay Thompson at 443-262-8491 or
lindsay.mdag@gmail.com.
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MD Turfgrass Association Jim Claxton Scholarship
Submit Applications by 5/31
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund was initiated during the Spring of 2011 in order to honor Jim and his contributions to the Mid-Atlantic area turfgrass industry and financially support students while pursuing a college degree.
Jim worked as a salesman for Newsom Seed from the early 1990's until soon before his passing on March 20, 2013. He made great contributions to turfgrass related businesses during this period, especially businesses involved in turf production.
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund allows for a single, annual $500.00 award to be issued to a winning applicant prior to the fall college semester.
Learn More and Apply Today.
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All About Maryland Festival
April 27 - 28, 2019
The Baltimore County Business Association reached out to the MNLGA to get some "green" involved in their All About Maryland Festival being held in April.
The festival will be showcasing the variety of talents we have in Maryland. Crafters, jewelers, artisans, retail and home services are welcome. The main requirement is that your business is based in Maryland or features some Maryland themed products. 100+ Vendors will be at The All About Maryland Festival.
Visit the festival website or take a look at the
vendor flyer.
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Deadline Extended to 3/15 for Farmers Applying for Grants to Establish Healthy Soil Practices
Farmers in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties who are interested in obtaining financial and technical support to establish healthy soil practices on their farms now have until
March 15 to apply for assistance through their local soil conservation district offices. The original deadline was extended to allow more farmers to take advantage of this unique opportunity to test the latest practices and technologies for building healthy soils on their farms.
Read More.
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MDA Announces New Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), established by the Farm Bill, that offers funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
The department anticipates that approximately $430,000 will be available in SCBGP funds. Of those available funds, Food Safety, Market Enhancement and Research will be a priority for projects with a minimum level of $15,000. Proposals that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to Maryland specialty crop producers in relation to each dollar spent and that receive support from specialty crop producers, will be prioritized. Grants will be reimbursement funds.
Read More.
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AG Literacy Opportunities
New Ways to Participate in the Ag Literacy Program
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George Mayo would like to share the following information: This Ag in the Classroom program seeks to instill in Maryland students the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Any group or individual wishing to promote agriculture is invited to participate – Farmer Bureau members, FFA students, Young Farmers, Commodity group leaders, retirees, or interested individuals.
Literacy Volunteers set up a time to visit in a nearby school and read to students in grades K-3. Following the reading of the book, volunteers conduct an activity with the students and share their experiences in agriculture. The book is then left in the classroom or media center.
For more information or to order a book for $10, contact Jeanne Mueller at
jmueller@maefonline.com or 410-848-4745.
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